HS2’s main works Contractor, Align JV – a team made up of Bouygues Travaux Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine, and VolkerFitzpatrick, has completed a new 400m road that will mean HS2 construction traffic can avoid the centre of the nearest town to the works-Chalfont St Peter.
The access road took three months by the JV companies. This includes a 60m deep vent shaft, built to provide ventilation and emergency access to the Chilterns tunnel. A single storey headhouse will be built on top containing fans and other technical equipment.
Once construction of the vent shaft is complete, the temporary access road will be removed and the land restored to its former condition. Mature trees will be retained at the perimeter of the vent shaft site, with new planting and wildlife habitats created around the building.
Rohan Perin, HS2 Ltd’s C1 Project Client Director said: “We recognise that our work will cause disruption to people living close to our construction sites. That’s why, over the last three months, we’ve worked to deliver a dedicated temporary access route to the vent shaft site. By taking heavy goods vehicles directly to the main road rather than going through the village, this new access road will make a big difference to people living and working in Chalfont St Peter.”
Daniel Altier, Align Project Director said: “The creation of the temporary access road is direct result of our engagement with local stakeholders. We are delighted to be able build something that directly addressed the concerns raised by local communities and improves road safety for the local school and nursery as well as people visiting the Epilepsy Society”.
In addition, a new temporary marshalled lorry holding area will also be put in place on the A413 near Gerrards Cross. HGVs can be held in this newly surfaced layby until their approach to the vent shaft site is clear – helping to reduce congestion and eliminate queueing at the site entrance.
The two projects are part of a package of mitigation measures designed to reduce the impact of construction on the local community.
Alongside the new access route, HS2 has also agreed to work with local highways authorities on a series of road improvements across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire designed to ease traffic flows during construction. This includes a new relief road at Chipping Warden, road widening and improvement at Wardington and junctions close to Great Missenden.
